RUN STOPPING: Other than defensive end Kevin Carter, the Bucshave another undersized defensive line and front seven that mostopponents feel they can attack with the run. "It's funny," one NFCpersonnel man said. "They're always good against the run and youwonder why. They're so small. But they are. They move them a lot anddon't ask them to two-gap, obviously." After three games the Bucsrank 20th against the run. However, since Monte Kiffin becamedefensive coordinator in 1996, Tampa Bay's run defense has finishedranked in the 20s only once. "(Chris) Hovan holds the point,"another scout said. "He's very strong and very competitive. Strongone on one. Picks off double-teams. (Jovan) Haye is more quick. He'snot bad against the run."
SAFETY SURGE: Safety has been one of the Bucs' best positionssince their inception in 1976. Jermaine Phillips starts and rotateswith Sabby Piscitelli at strong safety. The free safety is Tanard Jackson. "Both of those (starting) safeties are underrated," onescout said. "Phillips isn't a great player but he's physical.Playing the run and hitting people after they catch the ball, he'sgood at that. If you get him out in space and he has to cover peopleone-on-one, I don't think he's real good at that." Jackson fell tothe fourth round in 2007 because of off-field issues at Syracuse."Wouldn't surprise me if toward the end of the year he makes a namefor himself," the scout said. "Jackson has more of an upside than(Nick) Collins. He's still learning and will get himself out ofposition. But he's athletic, he can run, he's physical." Piscitelliis expected to replace Phillips in 2009.
SOLID SO FAR: Brian Griese will be making his third start for theBucs this season and the fourth of his career against Green Bay. In1999, he started for Denver in a 31-10 victory over the Packers(110.0 passer rating). In '05, he started for Tampa Bay in a 17-16victory (88.5). And last October he started for Chicago in a 27-20victory (97.8). In four appearances against the Packers, his passerrating is 88.9. "Smart as hell," one scout said. A defensive coachfor a recent Bucs' foe said: "Brian understands and knows how tomanage the game. Very smart. He's going to make the right throws anddecisions. He will take what's given him most of the time. Ifthey're not playing catch-up, he won't try to force it in there.Pocket kind of guy. Doesn't have a lot of mobility. Not ascrambler."
ON THE COME: As a rookie, defensive end Gaines Adams played 59.7%of the defensive snaps and had six sacks. Now the fourth pick in the2007 draft is playing much more and much better. "Sky's the limit,"one scout said. "He looks stronger than last year. Reminds me kindof John Abraham years ago when he relied more on speed than strengthand pass-rush moves. Good young player. He's OK against the run. Youcan run right at him and have some success." He will play acrossfrom left tackle Chad Clifton on base downs and right tackle Mark Tauscher on passing downs. "He's fast and athletic," another scoutsaid. "Works hard at it. He wants to be good. Getting better all thetime."
REGAINING FORM: Wide receiver Michael Clayton, the 15th pick in2004, had a great rookie season with 80 receptions for 1,193 yardsand seven TDs. In the last three years he has averaged merely 29catches, 343 yards and no TDs. Now Clayton is back starting forinjured Joey Galloway and showing signs of resurgence. "He had ahuge year as a rookie and then started dropping passes, was a littlebit overweight his second year and got in the doghouse," one scoutsaid. "He was supposedly on the trading block earlier this year. Buthe had a nice pre-season and then (Jon) Gruden started developing alittle more confidence in him. He still will have a drop atinopportune times." Said another scout: "He's tough as hell. Heseems to be finding his niche again. Pretty good player. I wouldn'tcall him a burner. Solid 4.55 guy."
Bob McGinn
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